CONTENTS
- Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award
- Improving Accessibility in India: Sugamya Bharat App’s Impact
Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award
Context:
Recently, the union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change presented the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan award 2024 on the occasion of International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
Relevance:
GS II: Government Policies and Interventions
Swachh Vayu Survekshan Award:
- Initiative Origin: Developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), this initiative ranks cities based on their adherence to the approved action plans for air quality management in 130 cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
- Guideline Release: In September 2022, MoEF&CC introduced the ‘Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan- Ranking of Cities’ guidelines under NCAP.
- Purpose: The program aims to rank 130 Indian cities by their effectiveness in implementing City Action Plans, with the goal of reducing air pollution by up to 40% by 2025-26.
- Key Objectives:
- Raise awareness across all societal segments.
- Educate the public on health risks associated with air quality.
- Compare air quality across different urban areas.
- Fulfill NCAP’s objective of ensuring “Clean air for all”.
- Assessment Platform: Cities are evaluated through submissions on the PRANA portal, which tracks progress in the NCAP framework.
2024 Awards:
The Swachh Vayu Survekshan Awards 2024 acknowledged top performers among NCAP cities, categorized by population size:
- Category 1 (Over 10 Lakhs): Surat, Jabalpur, and Agra.
- Category 2 (3-10 Lakhs): Firozabad, Amravati, and Jhansi.
- Category 3 (Under 3 Lakhs): Raebareli, Nalgonda, and Nalagarh.
Improving Accessibility in India: Sugamya Bharat App’s Impact
Context:
Since its inception in 2021, the Sugamya Bharat mobile application has been instrumental in addressing accessibility issues across India, receiving over 1,400 complaints. Remarkably, about 75 percent of these complaints have been resolved, showcasing the app’s effectiveness and the government’s commitment to enhancing accessibility for all citizens. This initiative highlights the proactive steps taken to address the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing various services and facilities.
Relevance:
GS II: Government Policies and Interventions
Sugamya Bharat App:
- It was launched by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, this app is designed to assist individuals with disabilities and the elderly by addressing accessibility challenges in public spaces.
- Purpose: The Sugamya Bharat app enables users to report issues related to public infrastructure, transportation, and building accessibility.
- Core Objectives:
- Facilitate the reporting of accessibility issues at public locations by using Google Maps to pinpoint specific locations.
- Allow users to upload geotagged photos to highlight and detail the accessibility problems encountered.
- User Interaction: Individuals experiencing accessibility barriers can submit their grievances directly through the app, focusing specifically on issues related to buildings, transportation systems, and ICT (Internet and Communication Technologies).
- Complaint Process: Users can file complaints by uploading photographic evidence, which is then reviewed and addressed by the appropriate authorities.
Future Enhancements:
- The government is set to upgrade the app with Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities to enhance user experience and functionality.
- The forthcoming version will feature an AI-powered chatbot and a multilingual interface.
- Collaboration with the NGO Mission Accessibility and I-STEM research institute is aimed at developing this AI-enhanced version of the app.
